What does meaningful sustainability progress look like for the global business events industry? Increasingly, it means moving beyond shared ambitions towards clear, practical guidance that organisations can confidently put into action.
That is the goal behind the next phase of work on the Events Industry Council’s Sustainable Event Standards (SES).
In collaboration with the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC), EIC has begun a targeted refinement of the Standards, bringing together more than 200 volunteer professionals from regions and sectors around the world. Their collective expertise will help ensure the next iteration remains relevant, accessible and responsive to the realities facing event organisers and suppliers.
The Javits Center is supporting the work as presenting strategic sponsor.
Building on a Strong Foundation
Developed through extensive global collaboration, the Sustainable Event Standards provide a framework through which organisers and suppliers can implement and measure sustainable practices across the events ecosystem.
This next phase is not about starting over. It is about strengthening what already exists—making the language clearer, reflecting current industry practices and creating an even more useful tool for organisations at different stages of their sustainability journeys.
Cross-sector working groups are reviewing criteria across organiser and supplier categories, with a particular focus on:
- Organisational management
- Climate action
- Supply chains
- Materials, circularity and waste
- Diversity, equity and inclusion, accessibility, and wellbeing
Most participation will take place asynchronously through guided surveys and collaborative documents, supplemented by a limited number of virtual sessions. This approach is designed to make it easier for professionals from across the globe to contribute.
Creating Greater Alignment
The refinement comes at a time when organisations are navigating a growing range of sustainability frameworks, reporting expectations and stakeholder demands.
While this momentum is welcome, it can also create complexity. Greater alignment among industry initiatives can reduce duplication, improve interoperability and give organisations clearer pathways for turning commitments into measurable progress.
For that reason, the work is closely connected to wider industry efforts, including JMIC’s Net Zero Carbon Events initiative and the Sustainable Event Goals. The latter translate the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals into practical guidance across the event lifecycle.
During IMEX Frankfurt, representatives from EIC, JMIC and other stakeholder organisations explored opportunities to strengthen coordination among these efforts and make sustainability implementation more accessible across the industry.
As Amy Calvert, President and CEO of EIC, explained, “the objective is to build on a strong foundation and give organisations a practical, globally relevant framework that helps them move from intention to action with confidence.”
Alexander Alles, Executive Director of JMIC, also emphasised the value of collaboration in simplifying the sustainability landscape and accelerating industry-wide progress.
Guided by Industry Experts
EIC has convened committees for each area of the Standards, led by industry Co-Chairs who will help ensure the process is structured, inclusive and globally representative.
The Co-Chairs are:
Organisational Management
- Alexander Alles, ICCA
- Lindsay Arell, Honeycomb Strategies
- Guy Bigwood, GDS-Movement
Climate Action
- Dawn Cabigon, Fairs and More Inc
- Yashi Dadhich, Javits Center
- Mélanie Delaplanche, Sustainability Addict
- Nathan Gauld, Victoria Conference Centre
- Sudhir Shaven, Rogers Worldwide India
- Eloisa Urrutia, American Express GBT
Supply Chain
- Gwendal Castellan, Destination Vancouver
- Sydney Rhea, Informa
Materials, Circularity and Waste
- Alisson Batres, Organizacion, S.A.
- Michael Gulich, MGM Resorts International
- Karen Young, Freeman
DEI, Accessibility and Wellbeing
- Beth Campion, Hilton
- Gonzalo Parro, Parro Experience
- Jennifer Storey, EPG Meetings and Incentives
EIC is also partnering with sustainability consultancy Astrapto to help lead and facilitate the process.
The Javits Center’s support reflects its longstanding focus on putting sustainability into practice at scale. For Javits Center President and CEO Joyce Leveston, “progress begins with people and with showing what can be achieved when an organisation’s teams work together towards a more sustainable future.”
What Comes Next
The working group review is now underway, with insights being gathered from across the global business events community.
The feedback will inform the next iteration of the Sustainable Event Standards, with updates focused on usability, alignment and measurable implementation.
At its heart, this is a collective effort to make sustainability less complex and more actionable. By bringing together diverse perspectives and connecting complementary initiatives, the industry can create clearer guidance and help more organisations turn ambition into meaningful action.